The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Entertainment Correspondent
MUTARE-born model and current Miss Ireland International, Blessing Mutamba, has been nominated for a Zimbabwe Achievers Award to be held in the UK on May 25.
The gorgeous Mutamba, who grew up in Mutare’s medium density suburb of Morningside, and is based in Ireland, was nominated in the female personality-of-the-year category.
Among the other reasons why Mutamba, 17, was nominated, was that she started a charitable organisation which raised 2 000 pounds, which was channelled towards the operations of Save the Children in Zimbabwean rural areas. She then went onto achieve a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Entreprise which she passed with a first class Honours from Southampton Solent University.
She was in a group of 20 candidates chosen, out of 180 applicants to participate in the launch pad business incubator underpinned by a funded Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship through Falmoth University.
Mutamba is now engaged in wider community outreach and fundraising to facilitate the provision of an entrepreneurial mentor-ship scheme aimed at Zimbabwe’s youth. Voting opened on April 14 and ends on Sunday.
In an interview, Mutamba, who left Zimbabwe when she was seven, said she was honoured by the recognition.
“I was actually shocked to have been nominated. I think being among the top achievers re-affirmed the work I have been doing and has helped me become even more confident in achieving my end goal. Some may think winning the title was the ultimate achievement, but for me it’s actually the beginning of my mission.
“I think it’s important to remind Zimbabwe’s youth that they have not been forgotten and everything we do is to make their future brighter. The title has opened so many doors for me like being invited to judge other international pageants, talking with media outlets such as BBC Radio Guernsey and being invited to prestigious events like the Divas of Colour International Women’s Festival. I was even hosted by the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to UK and Northern Ireland at Zimbabwe House in London as recognition of my work, so it’s a really big shock to have been nominated for such a prestigious award this early in my reign,” she said.
The voting link is <http://www.zimachievers.com/uk/nominees/>.
